Darren Dyhengco finds his way back to performing arts after pandemic career shift - GMA Network

Daren Dyhengco thought his career in the performing arts might be over when the pandemic brought the entertainment industry to a standstill.

What began as a temporary shift in direction turned into a two-and-a-half-year career as a personal trainer in Canada. But an unexpected opportunity eventually led him back to the stage.

During the pandemic, Daren used the downtime to focus on fitness, pursue personal training, and build a career outside show business.

With theaters closed and the film industry at a standstill, he turned to another passion while performing opportunities remained scarce.

“During the pandemic, wala naman na nangyayari. Everything's kinda like closed. Theaters closed. The film industry is like not really happening,” he recalled.

At the time, he thought he might never return to the performing arts. He had established a comfortable routine as a trainer, earned a stable income, and built a community of friends and clients.

Leaving that life behind to pursue acting again was not an easy decision.

His path back to the stage began when his agent told him about Prison Dancer, a Filipino-Canadian musical looking for its leading man.

“I got pulled back sa arts kasi... At that time, may agent ako, and lumabas yung post ng Prison Dancer. Tapos sabi niya, This is a Filipino-Canadian musical. And they're looking for their leading man. Sabi niya, 'I think you'd be the perfect fit for this.'

“At that time, medyo pinag-isipan ko rin na, 'Should I really go back?' Medyo I'm already comfortable with being a trainer.”

Having built a stable career in fitness, Daren knew that returning to the performing arts could mean starting over.

“If I left the gym, and then started going back into the arts, parang I'm going back to zero,” he recalled.

Despite his reservations, Daren accepted the role, a decision that proved to be a turning point in his career.

“Sa grasya ng Diyos, I got the role. And ever since then, tuluy-tuloy na,” he said, describing how performing opportunities continued to come his way after Prison Dancer.

The experience reaffirmed his place in the performing arts. Although he continues to appreciate fitness, Darren realized that performing was what he truly wanted to pursue.

“I realized that performing is for me,” he said.

“Kasi, there was a way for me to go back. And then, when I accepted Prison Dancer, tuluy-tuloy na yung bookings ko after.

“I realized na this is for me. And this is what I really wanted to do—kahit na love ko ang fitness, mas love ko pa rin ang performing. And I think I am meant to be in the performing world,” he said.

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Seven years after his previous Philippine concert in 2019, Daren is preparing to return to the Manila stage for another show. Titled Music and Dreams, Daren's concert at the Music Museum on October 30 is an opportunity to reconnect with his Filipino audience and showcase how he has grown as a performer through his years of experience abroad.

With more experience under his belt, he decided to give a Manila concert another try.

“So, seven years later, sabi namin, sige, try natin. I've had a lot of experience naman na din in my back pocket. I've learned a lot," he said.

Beyond showcasing his talent, the concert also holds personal significance for Daren, who wants to make his performance accessible to family and friends who cannot easily travel to Canada to watch him onstage.

“And this one, this one's like for my family and friends na hindi makalipad sa Canada,” he said.

Although he remains based in Canada because of his existing commitments and shows, Daren is open to spending more time in the Philippines. He said the reception to his upcoming concert could help determine whether he would eventually relocate.

“Every year I come back sa Manila. 'Tapos, we're kinda seeing how this concert goes. And if it does well, then I obviously would move here,” he shared.

In the meantime, Daren is preparing for the concert while exploring opportunities in the local theater scene. He is considering auditions for upcoming productions as he looks for ways to broaden his experience in Philippine theater.

He is particularly interested in joining local productions, noting that the theater scene in the country appears to be gaining momentum.

“I do want to try it here. Sa theatre here. Kasi I think, lumalakas na rin yung theatre, parang gumaganda na yung yung market ng theatre,” he said.

His experience in Canada has given him a deeper understanding of the theater industry, where he has primarily auditioned for smaller theater companies that hire local actors. Larger commercial productions, he explained, can be more difficult to break into because they sometimes bring in established Broadway productions and casts.

For him, the upcoming Manila concert is more than a return to the stage. It is an opportunity to reconnect with the people who have supported him, share the experience he has gained over the years, and explore the next chapter of his performing career in the country.